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Hebrews Chapter Seven

 
The Greatness Of Melchizedek (7:1-10)
 
INTRODUCTION
 
1. Thus far in our study, we have seen the writer mention
 Melchizedek...
 a. That Jesus is a priest "after the order of Melchizedek" - He
 5:9-10; 6:20
 b. It has only been a brief mention, for the dullness of the readers
 required a necessary digression - cf. He 5:11-6:20
 
2. But now the writer returns to his theme concerning Melchizedek, in 
 which he...
 a. Establishes the greatness of Melchizedek - He 7:1-10
 b. Shows the significance of Melchizedek's priesthood - He 7:11-19
 c. Thereby illustrating the greatness of Christ's priesthood - He
 7:20-28
 
3. Since this subject is "meat" compared to the "milk" of the Word (cf.
 He 5:10-12)...
 a. We want to approach it slowly and carefully
 b. Allowing ourselves to slowly "digest" what is said in this 
 seventh chapter of Hebrews
 
[For this reason, this lesson will limit itself to the first ten 
verses, in which we read of "The Greatness Of Melchizedek". To 
appreciate his greatness, we must be aware of...]
 
I. THE HISTORY OF MELCHIZEDEK (1-3)
 
 A. THE HISTORICAL RECORD AS FOUND IN GENESIS 14...
 1. We first read of "The Battle Of The Kings" - Gen 14:1-11
 2. In which Lot is captured, and then rescued by Abram (Abraham)
 - Gen 14:12-17
 3. Upon his return, Abram is met by Melchizedek - Gen 14:18
 a. Who is "king of Salem" (thought to be later known as
 Jerusalem)
 b. Who is also "the priest of God Most High"
 4. In this meeting, two things happen...
 a. Melchizedek blesses Abram (Abraham) - Gen 14:19
  b. Abram pays tithes to Melchizedek - Gen 14:20b
 
 B. IN REFERRING TO MELCHIZEDEK, THE AUTHOR OF HEBREWS...
 1. Summarizes the events in He 7:1-2
 a. How Melchizedek met Abraham and blessed him
 b. How Abraham gave "a tenth part of all" (i.e., tithes) to 
 Melchizedek
 2. Explains the meaning of his name and title - He 7:2
 a. The name "Melchizedek" means "king of righteousness"
 b. The title "king of Salem" means "king of peace"
 3. Makes some intriguing statements about Melchizedek...
 a. "without father, without mother, without genealogy"
 b. "having neither beginning of days nor end of life"
 c. "made like the Son of God"
 d. "remains a priest continually"
 
 C. WHO IS THIS "MELCHIZEDEK"?
 1. Some have suggested that he was:
 a. An angel (Origen, Didymus)
 b. Enoch (Husius, Calmet)
 c. Shem (Jerome, Luther)
 2. Others have taken the statements in v.3 to suggest that 
 Melchizedek was a "theophany" (a pre-incarnate appearance of 
 Christ), for the following reasons:
 a. The name Melchizedek, meaning "king of righteousness" (v.2)
 b. The designation "king of peace" (v.2)
 c. The possibility that the lack of recorded genealogy
 mentioned in v.3 is due to actual lack of ancestors, rather
 than the mere absence of historical record
 d. He is said to remain "a priest continually" (v.3c)
 e. He is contrasted with "mortal men" (v.8a)
 f. Of him "it is witnessed that he lives" (v.8b)
 3. Most take that he was simply a man (note v.4), but because he
 appears suddenly in Scripture as a priest...
 a. With no mention of parentage or genealogy
 b. With no mention of his birth or death
 c. With only a mention of him as a priest of "God Most High"
 ...that he is a "type" of Christ, and what His priesthood 
 would be like
 
[While the true identity of Melchizedek may remain a mystery because of
the brevity of scriptural information, his importance as it relates to
the superiority of Christ's priesthood becomes very clear as we 
consider...]
 
II. THE SIGNIFICANCE OF MELCHIZEDEK (4-10)
 
 A. MELCHIZEDEK RECEIVED TITHES FROM ABRAHAM (4-6a)
 1. Abraham paid a tenth to Melchizedek
 2. Just as the nation of Israel would later pay a tenth to the 
 sons of Levi
 -- Thus Abraham, great as he was, showed his deference to 
 Melchizedek
 
 B. MELCHIZEDEK BLESSED ABRAHAM (6b-7)
 1. Melchizedek blessed him "who had the promises" (Abraham)
 2. There is no dispute that "the lesser is blessed by the better"
 -- Thus Melchizedek is clearly "better" than Abraham
 
 C. MELCHIZEDEK'S SERVICE WAS NOT AFFECTED BY DEATH (8)
 1. In the priesthood under the Jewish system (i.e., the Levitical
 or Aaronic priesthood), tithes were received by "mortal men"
 (whose service ended at death)
 2. But it has been witnessed that Melchizedek "lives"("remains a
 priest continually" - He 7:3)
 3. How he lives and remains a priest continually, the Bible does
 not say
 -- But in this way Melchizedek is greater than the Levitical 
 priests (a point made concerning Jesus later in the chapter)
 
 D. EVEN LEVI PAID TITHES TO MELCHIZEDEK (9-10)
 1. Levi was "in the loins of his father" Abraham when 
 Melchizedek met him
 2. Thus Levi, who receives tithes, paid tithes "through Abraham,
  so to speak"
 -- Again illustrating the greatness of Melchizedek, as one 
 greater than Levi!
 
CONCLUSION
 
1. There is a lot more I wish I knew about Melchizedek...
 a. Was he a "theophany", a pre-incarnate appearance of Christ?
 b. Was he is an angel? Enoch? Shem?
 c. Was he simply a man?
 1) One whose Biblical record is such that he serves as a "type" 
 of Christ
 2) If so, I would love to know where he came from, and how he 
 came to be "priest of God Most High"
 d. And how does he remain a priest continually?
 
2. But what I do know is this...
 a. Jesus is "a priest forever according to the order of 
 Melchizedek", as God swore He would be in Psa 110:4
 b. And that Melchizedek is clearly presented to be greater than 
 Abraham and Levi!
 
Understanding "The Greatness Of Melchizedek" helps prepare us to 
appreciate the superiority of Christ's priesthood over the Levitical
(Aaronic) priesthood, which we will consider later...

The Significance Of Christ's Priesthood (7:11-19)
 
INTRODUCTION
 
1. A major theme in "The Epistle To The Hebrews" is the priesthood of
 Jesus Christ...
 a. His humanity prepared Him to be "a merciful and faithful High
 Priest" - He 2:17
 b. He is the "High Priest of our confession" - He 3:1
 c. He is "a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens" 
 - He 4:14
 d. He is a sympathetic High Priest, for He "was in all points 
 tempted as we are, yet without sin" - He 4:15
 e. His calling as High Priest came from God Himself - He 5:5-6
 
2. His is a unique priesthood, however...
 a. It is NOT according to the "Levitical priesthood"
 1) He is a not priest in the order of Aaron
 2) A priesthood that began with the giving of the Law through 
 Moses at Mt. Sinai
 b. His priesthood is "according to the order of Melchizedek" - He 5:
 9-10
 1) Melchizedek was a priest "of God Most High" who met Abram 
 - Gen 14:14-20
 2) And God swore that the Messiah would be a priest like 
 Melchizedek - Psa 110:4
 
3. In our previous study, we saw Melchizedek was superior in that...
 a. He received tithes from Abraham - He 7:4-6a
 b. He blessed Abraham - He 7:6b-7
 c. Even Levi, in the loins of his ancestor Abraham, paid tithes to
 Melchizedek - He 7:9-10
 -- All of this proving that the priesthood of Christ, which is after
 the order of Melchizedek, is superior to the Levitical priesthood
 
4. That Jesus would come to serve as a priest after the order the
 Melchizedek is not without significance and major implications...
 a. Regarding the efficacy of the Levitical priesthood
 b. Regarding the law of Moses itself!
 
[Some of the significance and implications of Christ's priesthood is 
described in He 7:11-19. As we consider "The Significance Of Christ's
Priesthood", we note first that ...]
 
I. THE LEVITICAL PRIESTHOOD WAS LACKING (11)
 
 A. IT DID NOT BRING "PERFECTION"...
 1. Otherwise there would not have been another priest to arise
  like Melchizedek
 2. That one was foretold (Psa 110:4) and has come proves the 
 order of Aaron was lacking
 
 B. THE MEANING OF "PERFECTION"...
 1. Perfection means "completeness" and in this context it speaks
 of making men acceptable to God (Believers' Study Bible)
 2. The Old Law with its priesthood could never fully reconcile 
 man back to God
 a. Animal sacrifices could not make one "perfect" - He 10:1
 b. They could not cleanse the sinner's conscience - He 10:2-3;
 cf. 9:9
 c. They could not take away sin - He 10:4; cf. 10:11
 
[Jesus coming as a priest after the order of Melchizedek implies that
the Levitical priesthood, while having served the purpose for which it
was intended (to foreshadow the sacrifice of Christ), was not able to
provide man what he really needs. 
 
The priesthood of Christ also signifies...]
 
II. THE LAW HAS BEEN ANNULLED (12-18)
 
 A. A CHANGE IN THE PRIESTHOOD SIGNIFIES A CHANGE IN THE LAW...
  1. Jesus came from the tribe of Judah, not Levi - He 7:13-14;
 cf. Mt 1:1-2
 2. Moses had not authorized anyone from Judah to serve as priest;
 indeed, God specifically forbid anyone other than a descendant
 of Aaron - cf. Num 16:40
 3. For Christ to serve as priest, then, a change must have 
 occurred - He 7:14
 4. Especially for one who serves "according to the power of an 
 endless life" - He 7:15-17
 a. The Levitical priests were "mortal men", whose service 
 ended at death
 b. But Jesus is a priest "forever", His priesthood is 
 therefore unchangeable - He 7:24
 
 B. WITH THE CHANGE IN PRIESTHOOD, THE LAW IS NOW ANNULLED...
 1. "Annulled" means "to declare as void, to invalidate, to 
 abrogate" (Lightfoot)
 2. The "former commandment" (as the Law is called) has therefore
 been set aside - He 7:18-19a
 a. Because it was weak and unprofitable
 b. In the sense of making us "perfect" (acceptable to God) 
 - cf. He 10:1
 3. That the Law has been done away should not surprise us...
 a. God foretold this would happen - cf. He 8:7-13
 b. Jesus implied that the Law would be done away once it was 
 fulfilled - Mt 5:17-18
 1) One "jot" or "tittle" would not pass from the law until
 it was fulfilled
 2) If the priesthood has changed, then it must have been
 fulfilled and done away!
 c. Paul described how Jesus abolished it in His death on the 
 cross
 1) To the Ephesians - Ep 2:14-16
 2) To the Colossians - Co 2:14-16
 
[This significance of Christ's priesthood has powerful implications. 
With the Law annulled, it is folly to seek justification by the Law 
(cf. Ga 5:4); it also explains why we should not go to the Old Law to
find our authority for the work, worship, and organization of the 
church!
 
Finally, there is that significance of Christ's priesthood which should
be most precious to us...]
 
III. THERE IS NOW A BETTER HOPE (19)
 
 A. THROUGH WHICH WE CAN DRAW NEAR TO GOD...
 1. As seen earlier, the Levitical priesthood did not offer 
 "perfection"
 a. Its sacrifices could not make one "perfect" regarding:
 1) Consciousness of sins, for sacrifices were "year by 
 year" - He 10:1-3
 2) Actual forgiveness of sins, for "it is not possible 
 that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins"
 - He 10:4
 b. Thus the Law, because of its "weakness and 
 unprofitableness", "made nothing perfect" - He 7:18-19
 2. But now we have in Christ "a better hope"
 a. Here we find the keyword of this epistle: "better"
 1) First used in comparing Jesus to angels - He 1:4
 2) Used later in contrasting the new covenant and its 
 promises with the old covenant - He 7:22; 8:6
 b. Our hope in drawing near to God is now "better" than 
 before!
 
 B. CHRIST'S SUPERIOR PRIESTHOOD IS THE BASIS OF THAT HOPE...
 1. Because Jesus is "a priest forever according to the order of 
 Melchizedek", our hope for drawing near to God is much 
 better:
 a. As we've seen, Melchizedek is superior to Abraham and Levi
 b. Therefore his priesthood is superior to the Levitical
 priesthood
 -- Making Jesus' own priesthood superior
 2. More evidence of superiority will be considered shortly (cf. 
 He 7:24-28), but for now note again how the greatness of 
 Jesus' priesthood should strengthen our hope in drawing near 
 to God:
 a. Our High Priest has "passed through the heavens" - He 4:14
  b. Our High Priest can "sympathize with our weaknesses"
 - He 4:15
 c. Our High Priest makes it possible to "come boldly to the
 throne of grace" and "obtain mercy and find grace to help
 in time of need" - He 4:16
 -- Can we see how His service as our High Priest provides "a
 better hope, through which we draw near to God"?
 
CONCLUSION
 
1. More is yet to come regarding Christ's Priesthood, but perhaps we 
 can appreciate how...
 a. The Levitical priesthood does not provide what man really needs
 (access to God)
 b. There has been a change in the Law; indeed, it has been replaced
 with a new covenant
 c. In Jesus, our hope in drawing near to God is much better than 
 ever before!
 
2. In view of such things...
 a. Why would the Hebrew Christians ever want to leave Jesus and 
 return to the Law?
 b. Why would people today seek to use the Law to justify religious 
 practices, as many do when they turn to the Old Testament to 
 establish authority for such things as a separate priesthood 
 (clergy), burning of incense, or even instrumental music?
 
Jesus is the only way to God (cf. Jn 14:6). Are you willing to come 
to the Father through Him? Let us be sure to serve God through Him 
only! - cf. Ga 5:4-6

The Superiority Of Christ's Priesthood (7:20-28)
 
INTRODUCTION
 
1. In the first seven chapters of "The Epistle To The Hebrews", the
 main thought is the superiority of Christ...
 a. To the prophets - He 1:1-3
 b. To angels - He 1:4-2:18
 c. To Moses - He 3:1-5
 d. To Aaron and his Levitical priesthood - He 5:1-10; 7:1-28
 
2. In showing the superiority of Jesus' priesthood, the author has done
 so step-by-step...
 a. Jesus is qualified to be a priest by virtue of His calling by God
 and His suffering - He 5:1-8
 b. He has been called to be "a priest forever according to the order
 of Melchizedek" - He 5:9-10
 c. The priestly order of Melchizedek is shown to be superior by 
 comparing Abraham and Melchizedek - He 7:1-10
 d. That Christ has become such a priest has several implications 
 - He 7:11-19
 1) The Levitical priesthood could not make one perfect before 
 God
 2) The Law upon which the Levitical priesthood was based has been
 annulled
 3) Christ now provides "a better hope, through which we draw near
 to God"
 
3. This brings us to He 7:20-28, in which we find a climatic 
 comparison...
 a. Where Jesus is contrasted with those who served in the Levitical
 priesthood
 b. Where "The Superiority Of Christ's Priesthood" is clearly 
 demonstrated
 
[In this passage, we find at least four points illustrating Jesus'
superiority, the first of which pertains to...]
 
I. HIS DIVINE APPOINTMENT (20-22)
 
 A. LEVITICAL PRIESTS WERE APPOINTED BY A "COMMAND"...
 1. Beginning with Aaron, he and his descendants served in the 
 Levitical priesthood
 2. It was a divine command that so appointed them - Exo 28:1-4
  3. While divinely commanded, it was not with an oath
 
 A. JESUS WAS MADE A PRIEST WITH AN "OATH"...
 1. Again, the reference is to Psa 110:4, in which God swore an
 oath concerning the coming Messiah and His priesthood
 2. We saw earlier that a promise joined with an oath really 
 confirms the "immutability" (unchangeableness) of God's 
 counsel - cf. He 6:17
 2. Appointed by an oath and not just a command, Jesus has become
 "a surety of a better covenant"...
 a. "surety" means "guarantor" (NEB)
 b. Appointed by such an oath from God, Jesus guarantees the 
 new covenant, that it is "better" (there is that key word 
 again!)
 
[The superiority of Christ's priesthood is also illustrated by...]
 
II. HIS ETERNAL INTERCESSION (23-25)
 
 A. LEVITICAL PRIESTS WERE LIMITED IN SERVICE BY "DEATH"...
 1. When one died, another took his place
 2. Of necessity there had to be "many priests"
 
 B. JESUS "EVER LIVES" TO MAKE INTERCESSION FOR US...
 1. That is because "He continues forever"
 2. As seen earlier, Jesus came "according to the power of an 
 endless life" - He 7:16
 3. He therefore "has an unchangeable priesthood"
 a. He is "able to save to the uttermost those who come to God
 through Him"
 1) He can do what the law could not do: make one "perfect"
 - cf. He 7:19
 2) That is, make one "holy, and blameless" - cf. Co 1:21-22
 b. And "He ever lives to make intercession for them"
 1) I have always been impressed by this phrase
 2) For it suggests what Jesus is doing for us now, and is
 most willing to do!
 
[As we continue in our text, we see yet another contrast with Levitical
priests...]
 
III. HIS PERFECT CHARACTER (26-27)
 
 A. LEVITICAL PRIESTS WERE "SINNERS"...
 1. Some more so than others
 2. Even the best of them had to "offer up sacrifices"...
 a. On a daily basis
 b. For his own sins before offering sacrifices others
 
 B. JESUS IS "SEPARATE FROM SINNERS"...
 1. We see our High Priest described in regards to...
 a. His holy character: "holy, harmless, undefiled, separate
 from sinners"
  b. His preeminent position: "higher than the heavens"
 -- Thus He does not need to offer sins for Himself
 2. This makes Him a High Priest "fitting" (becoming, seemly) for
 us
 
[Add to His perfect character another element that shows His superior
priesthood...]
 
IV. HIS PERMANENT SACRIFICE (27)
 
 A. THE LEVITICAL PRIESTS SACRIFICED "DAILY"...
 1. Every day they offered sacrifices for their own sins and for
 those of the people
 2. That they had to be continually offered implies a fundamental
 weakness in the efficacy of the sacrifices themselves
 3. Later we learn that the problem was the inability of animal
 sacrifices to make one perfect and to cleanse the conscience 
 of sins - He 10:1-4; cf. 9:9
 
 B. JESUS OFFERED HIMSELF "ONCE FOR ALL"...
 1. This implies the efficacy of His sacrifice
 2. The superiority of Jesus' sacrifice will be explained further,
 later on- cf. He 9:11-15; 10:11-14
 
CONCLUSION
 
1. In verse 28, we find a summary statement that contrasts the two 
 priesthoods...
 a. The "law", upon which the Levitical priesthood derives its
 authority, appoints men who "have weaknesses"; for example:
 1) They are sinners themselves, and death terminates their
 service
 2) Their sacrifices cannot truly remove sin, so had to be
 repeated daily and yearly
 b. The "oath", given after the law and the basis for Christ's
 priesthood, appoints the Son "who has been perfected forever";
 for example:
 1) His humanity and the obedience learned through suffering makes
 Him most "fitting" to be our High Priest - cf. He 2:17-18;
 4:14-16; 5:8-9
 2) His sinlessness makes the sacrifice of Himself the perfect and
 all-sufficient sacrifice, given once for all! - cf. He 10:
 12-14
 
2. In chapters 9 and 10, the focus of this epistle will center on the
 superiority of Christ's sacrifice; but for now, our attention has 
 been on those things that illustrate what our great High Priest:
 a. His appointment by an oath from God, not just a command
 b. His eternal intercession, not limited by death
 c. His perfect character, untainted by sin
 d. His permanent sacrifice, offered once for all when He offered 
 Himself
 
Don't you desire to have such a High Priest interceding in your behalf?
Then as Christians...
 
 "Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we 
 may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need." - He 4:16
 
Let us never forget that "He ever lives to make intercession" for those
who come to God through Him!

－－《Executable Outlines》

Melchizedek

Without beginning of days

Without end of life

I. A symbol representing Jesus the Lord

1. Similar background

2. Superior position

3. A priest forever

II. How Jesus surpasses Aaron

1. The power of an indestructible life

2. A better hope

3. Mediator between God and men

III. Perfect High Priest

1. Love forever

2. Intercede for men

3. Everlasting salvation

－－ Chih-Hsin Chang《An Outline of The New Testament》